Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited battery-operated Mo-Ride and E-Bus services of Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) have been flagged off in the capital city on Friday. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the services.
In the first phase, 10 e-buses and 50 e-rickshaws will ply the selective routes to ferry passengers. While 50 more e-buses will be included in the fleet in the coming days.
The e-buses service has been started on the four routes of 9,11,12 and 23 which cover Patia, Patrapada and Pokhariput.
Passengers can avail ride in e-buses free of cost on July 29, 30 and 31. The buses will have pink-coloured seats reserved for women. The ticket price of e-buses will be same as regular AC Mo Bus.
Emphasizing gender equality, CRUT has appointed 50 percent women guides for e-buses, while e-rickshaws will be driven by only women and transgenders. This apart women captain (drivers) will also be introduced to run e-buses in the city.